I Know I Can’t Earn the Savior!
The Offense of the Cross

Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

The Jews were being offended by the Apostle Paul’s teaching. You know how that feels. Think back to a time when you felt offended. Did phrases like: “That’s not true!” or “They are just as bad” or “That is so unfair,” come flying out of your mouth? When someone is offended, they seldom stay quiet about it! The Jews sure made a fuss about Paul’s preaching. The problem the Jews had with Paul’s message is the cross! Paul was preaching that salvation from sins was accomplished by Jesus dying on the cross, not by observing Jewish rules and regulations! That made the cross an offense! “How dare Paul” they, in essence, said about this message he preached!

Do you dare tell people about Jesus and the cross? If you stick with “God talk” in general, you probably won’t offend very many. Our TV celebrities and politicians refer to God without many eyebrows being raised. God may be a safe subject in our society, but His Son Jesus still offends people. Can you imagine a politician saying he believed and received Jesus as His Savior? The press would not be kind!

Jesus paid the price for our salvation. Jesus took the scourging and the nails. Jesus hung on the cross and it is Jesus we must acknowledge as our Savior! We can’t earn His favor; we can only receive the gift He purchased.

Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for the love and mercy that was wrapped up in that Babe in Bethlehem! In Jesus’ Name, amen.